System for burning oil



Aug. 19 1924.

G. T; sMALLwooD SYSTEM FOR BURNING OI L Filed Jan. 20.

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. G. T. SMALLWOOD SYSTEM FOR BURNING OIL Filed Jan. 20. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet W bo'z Geo/ye .TSmallwooa,

Patented Aug. 19, 1924;

GEQRGE '1. SMALL'WOOD, WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SYSTEM roe BURNING OIL.

4 Application filed January 20, 1923. Seiialit. 813,930.

I have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems for Burning Oil, of which the following is a specification.

'Ihe present invention relates to means for burning oil or other liquid fuel, the primary object being the provision of an apparatus by which the supply of fuel and of water can be regulated to a nicety in order to get the most effective results in combustion.

A further and important object is to provide a burner as a part of the apparatus, which burner is water-jacketed in a manner to protect it against quick destruction from heat, and at the same time provide means for delivering moisture to the combusting gases so as to efi'ect complete combustion and thus eliminate carbon deposit.

A further and important object is to pro vide means whereby the air supply for supporting combustion may either e atmospheric air, or in other words air unmixed with a gaseous fuel or a carburetted air may be employed.

Embodiments vof the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view somewhat diagrammatic in its character of the fuel and water supply means, showing the same mounted for furnishing such fuel and water to the burner or burners of a boiler,

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the leveldetermining containers and is taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3--3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is. a view in elevation of one of the valve-operating floats employed in the containers illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a rear elevation of the valve operated by such float. I

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the valve shown in Figure 5,

Figure 7 is an end elevation of the valve seat member,

Figure 8 is a 'VBI'lLlCfll sectional View through the preferred embodiment of the burner structure,

ber;

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view of part of the spreader head.

In order to make the entire apparatus clear, 1tis probably best to first describe the urner structure, and considering the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figure 8, a combustion chamber is provided,

having a cylindrical and upwardly tapering side wall 16, forming an open top 17. This chamber is also provided with a bottom 18, preferably having an upstanding flange 19, into which the lower end of the cylindrical s1de wall 16 is arranged. The bottom is p'ovided with 'a central depending extension is a water jacket, comprising a cylindrical side wall 21, having an inturned top 22 provided with a central circular opening. 23 that 1s in register with the open top of the combustion chamber. The top 22 overlies the top edge of the cylindrical. side wall 1( -3 of the combustion chamber, and is provlded with depending positioning and retaming lugs 24. The top edge of the cylmder wall 16 is serrated, as illustrated at 25, providing openports 26 affording communication etween the top of the water acket and the top of the combustion cham- The water jacket is provided with a bottom plate or disk 27, preferably threaded to the cylindrical side wall 21, packing 28 being interposed between the two. .The

bottom 27 is beneath and spaced from the bottom 18 of the combustion chamber. As a consequence, it will be noted that the combustion chamber is not only surrounded with a water jacket, but that said water jacket extends beneath the bottom.

A water supply pipe 29 is connected to thebottom 27 and opening into the lower portion of the water jack'et supplies water thereto. The tubular extension of the combustion chamber bottom 18 is threaded through the water jacket bottom 2'3, and screwed upon the lower projectin end vof said extension is a coupling 30, t e whole forming a fuel chamber 31 that extends across the lower portion of the water jacket, and depends below said bottom 27. Connected to the coupling is an oil or liquid fuel supply pipe 32, preferably threaded into one side ofsaid coupling,the other side also having a port 33 which may be em- Surrounding the combustion chamber ployed for the' connection of the pipe 32, according to the position of the burner. This other opening 33 is closed by a detachable plug 34 and may be employed as a clean-out by the-removal of said plug.

Extending upwardly and centrally through the fuel chamber 31 1s a tubular stem 35. The upper end portion 1s surroundedby a protecting sleeve 36 that is threaded into the extension 20. Said sleeve is provided with a plurality of fuel outlet ports 37'communicating with the chamber 31 and opening into the combustion chamber 15 above the bottom 18 thereof. The stem 35 projects above the sleeve 36, and detachably mounted thereon is a spreader head 38. The head is preferably composed of a composition of asbestos and fire clay or other heat-resisting material. This head is held in place by a pin 39 projecting from one side of the stem and engaging in a bayonet slot 40, formed internally in the neck 41 of said head 38. The neck 41 is provided with a plurality of radial ports 41 opening therefrom. The other end of the coupling receives a supply pipe 47 leading from the outlet end of a vertical carburetter casing 48 that is located alongside the burner, though this carburettr may be placed in any desired-location, so long as its supply connection is in the pipe 32. The supply to this carburetter casing is by a pipe 49 connected to its lower end, and connected to the pipe 32.

The referable internal construction of the car uretter is illustrated in Figure 11. It is rovided with an Archimides screw partition 50 forming a tortuous passageway from the bottom to the top, and this passageway is filled with an absorbent material 51. Air inlet orts 52 are formed in the sides of the casing 48 above the bottom thereof and also above the level of the liquid fuel, as hereinafter explained.

The operation of the burner is as follows Liquid fuel is first admitted to the chamber 31 and is permitted to rise to substantially the level illustrated in Figure 8. The oil is then ignited and after ignition, water is admitted through the pipe 29 and is permitted to rise to the top of the water jacket so that it will flow slowly through the ports .26 and gravitate down the inner face of the cylindrical wall 16 of the combustion chamw ber 15. Air is admittedthrough the stem 35 and will pass through the ports 41 and 42. As the flame from the oil rises, it will be deflected or spread outwardly to the head 38 and against the wall 16, thereby contacting with the water flowing down the same and causing the vaporization of such water. As a consequence there will be a mixture of gaseous fuel, air and steam, resulting in 'a hot flame and complete combustion of the fuel. This flame, of course, rises from tne opening 23. If atmospheric air is desired it is only necessary to open the valve 45, whereupon such air will flow freely through the inlet port 44. If carburetted air is desired the valve 45 will be closed, whereupon the suction caused in the pipe 35 will result in an inflow of air through the ports 52, and this air passing through the absorbent material 51 in the .carburetter casing, will vaporize the liquid fuel thathas been absorbed therein, carrying it through the pipe 47 and intothe combustion chamber.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is disclosed therein the apparatus for supplying fuel to the combustion chamber and carburetter and water to the water jacket, said apparatus affording an even and automatically controlled flow of the fluids and permitting an accurate adjustment of the levels of said liquids. A liquid fuel reservoir is illustrated at 53, and preferably consists of r an open tank, into which enters a fuel supply pipe 54 connected to an electric pump, illustrated diagrammatically at 55. The operation of the pump 55 is controlled by the level of the fuel in the tank 53. To this end a portion of an electric circuit for operating the motor of'the pump is shown at 56, and includes a circuit closer, comprising a contact member 57 and a'controlling arm 58 movable into and out of contact with said member 57. The member 58 has a link connection 59 with one arm of a lever 60 that is provided with a weighted arm 61.

This lever has also an arcuate actuating arm 62 extending on opposite sides of the fulcrum 63 of said lever. A plunger 64, in the tank 53,'is carried by a lever. 65 pivotally mounted between its ends, as shown at 66 on the tank 53. The lever rojects beyond thetank and has a roller 6 that operates along the curved surface of the lever arm 62. With this construction when the tank is full and the float in horizontal position,-

has been moved past the dead center, it will continue the movement of'the lever 60 to effect such closure of the switch. This, as will be obvious, throws the pump into operation, and as the level of the fuel again rises, the float will again openthe switch and stop the operation of the pump.

On a suitable support, shown at 68, is a fuel-level container in the form of a box 69, and leading to this box 69, is a fuel supply pipe 70, forming the long leg of a siphon, the short leg 71 of which enters the reservoir 53, and preferably has a suitable strainer 72 on its intake end. At the top of the siphon 70-71 is a funnel 73 in communication with the lon leg 70 of the siphon, said communication heing controlled by a valve 7 4. The funnel preferably has a capacity about equal to the capacityof the long leg 70 of the .siphon. From the box 69 extends the fuelconducting pipe 32, which as already described, leads to the fuel reservoir 31 in the burner shown in Figure 8. In said pipe 32 is located a controlling valve 75. Referring now to'Figures 3-7 inclusive, it will be noted that the outlet of the pipe 70, leading into the box 69, has mounted within said box a holding collar 76 provided with a valve seat 77, and said collar has also spaced depending ears 78. Pivotally mounted to and between said.ears 78 is the ear 79 of an up standing valve 80 that is movable into and out of cooperation with the seat 77. This valve is provided with oppositelyextending pins 81 and an upstanding arm 82 terminates in an abutment ug 83. A float 84, located in the box 69, is supported by an arm 85 preferably formed of two sections, as shown in Figure 4, said sections having their lower portions separated, to form a yoke 86, and the lower end of the arms of this yoke are journaled on the'ears 7 8 outside the same, the pivot pin for said arms being shown at 87 in Figure 3, and extending through the arms 86, the ears 78 and the ear 79. The top of the yoke extends over the arm 82 of the valve 80, andthe abutment lug 83of said arm is in the path of the arm 85. The arms 86 of the yoke have upstanding lugs 88 that are adapted to engage the pins 81 on their outer sides. As clearly shown in Figure 3 the float controls the operation of the valve 80. When the level of the fuel is, as illustrated, the lugs 88 operating against the pins 81, hold the valve in its closed position. If the level falls the float moves downwardly with it, and if the valve does not open b reason of the pressure against its inner ace, the arm 85 will engage the lu 83 and'open it. From this box, the oil ows freely through the pipe 32 to the chamber 31 and combustion chamber 15 when the valve 7 5 is opened.

For the suppl offuel therefore in order to start the sip on 7 1, the valve is closed and the funnel 73 filled with the fuel.

The valve 7 4 is then opened and the long leg 7 0 of the siphon will be filled. The valve 74 is then closed and the siphon will operate, It will be understood that the container 69 is placed at the proper level, so that the fuel will flow freel into the chamber 31 and to substantially the level illustrated in Figures 8 and 11. Consequently not only will this fuel be in the combustion chamber, but also in the lower portion of the carburetter and the operation above described will take place, fuel being supplied as rapidly as itis burned. I

For the purpose of supplying the water to the water jacket, a reservoir 89 is provided, and a supply pipe 90 from any suitable source is connected thereto. The supply of water through the pipe is controlled by. a

valve 91 carried on the swinging arm 92 of a float 93, so thatthe level in the reservoir 89 Y can be automatically maintained. From the the reservoir 89 a siphon, comprising a short leg 94 entering into the reservoir and a long leg 95, is employed. The short leg preferably has a suitable screen 96, and said siphon is provided with a starting funnel 97 and a controlling valve 98 which operates in the same manner as that already described in connection with the fuel supply means. The leg includes a flexible section 99 and a pipe 100 that is connected to another levelcontrolling container 101 arranged alongside the container 69. This container 101 is also in the form of an open topped box having.

a float valve preferably corresponding to that shown in Figures 3-7 inclusive. From the container or box 101 a flexible pipe 102 is connected to the pipe 29, anda controlling valve 103 is located at the juncture of said pipes 29 and 102. The box 101, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, is vertically adjustable, any

suitable means being provided for effecting this adjustment and holding it in adjusted position. Thus in said figure a supporting screw is shown at 104, and is threaded through a sleeve 105 on the supporting table '68. The upper end of the screw has an operating handle 106 and is journaled in a bushing 107 carried by thev under side of a platform orshelf 108, on which the box 101 is mounted. This box can be placed at a height that will secure the desired level of the waterin the water jacket of the burner, so that the water will rise to a height that will permit its passage through the ports 26 into the combustion chamber, as already described, and yet will prevent an overpressure that might result in asurplus amount of water being supplied to the combustion chamber. lit also is useful in connection with dillerent burners. For instance, the heights of the burners vary according to the size-of the boileror other heater and may range from the shortest at two and one-half inches responding to the height of the burner used. long log, said long and waterwill be delivered by gravity and from the reservoirs to the tallest, four and three-quarters inches. associated with the latter reservoir, and a I These. heights may be shown on the box 69 siphon for withdrawing liquid fuel from as indicated at 109, and the bottom of the the fuel reservoir and comprising a short container 101 can be placed at a height corleg opening into the fuel reservoir and a leg being connected to Briefly described, the operation of the apthe burner. paratus is as follows: Fuel and water wi be maintained respectively in the reservoirs liquid fuel and water reservoirs, conduits 53 and 89' at a constant level, and this fuel respectively supplying liquid fuel and water to- .the burner, containat a constant pressure into the level-controlers in said conduits, through which the fuel ling tanks 69' and 101. From these. tanks 'and water pass, automatic supply controlthe fuel will enter the lower portion of the" ling means in the containers, a common supcombustion chamber and burn, the combusort for the containers, said containers be- 2. The combination with a burner, of

tion being assisted through the supply either mg located side by side and means for ,chamber and assist in securing complete and commingling with the uprising gaseous without further description,

of atmospheric air or carburetted air, as mounting the containers and the controlling desired. During the initial stages water means therein on the support at relatively flowing from the water jacket will be transdifferent heights to vary the res ective levformed into steam within the combustion els of the fuel and water in the burner.

} 3. The combination with a burner, of combustion. Obviously as the burner beliquid fuel, and water reservoirs, conduits comes heated a portion of said water in said respectively supplying liquid fuel and water jacket will be transformed into steam and from the reservoirs to the burner, containthis steam will enter through the ports 26, ers in said conduits, through which the fuel and water pass, automatic supply controlfuel and flames, will assist in combustion. ling meansin the containers, said contain- From the foregoing, it is thought that ers being located side by side and having the construction, operation and many admeans for indicating their respective elevavantages of the hereindescribed invention tions, and means for supporting the conwill be apparent to those skilled in the art, tainer of the water conduit and its controland it will be ling means at diiferent'heights tovary the understpod that various changes intl'i'e'size, shape, proportion andminor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of the invention.

height of the level of the water in the burner. I o

4. The combination with a burner, of liquid fuel and water reservoirs, means for supplying liquid fuel and water respec- Having thus fully described my inven tively to the reservoirs and automatically tion, what I claim as new, and desire to controlling the supplies, water and fuel consecure by Letters Patent, is tainers respectively connected to the burner,

1. The combination with a burner, of means for supporting the water container.

means for supplying by gravity a liquid at different heights-with respect to the fuel fuel and water to the burner, comprising container and the burner, siphons for withreservoirs for each, a water supply pipe drawingthe water and fuel from the reserconnected to the water reservoir, 'a'ffioatvoirs, and respectively delivering the same controlled valve for the water supply pipe, to the containers, and automatic means cona siphon for withdrawing water rom the trolling'the passage of the liquids through water reservoir, said siphon having ashort the siphons to the containers.

leg 0 ening into the water reservoir and a In testimony long eg connected to the burner, a pump ture. for delivering liquid fuel to the fuel reservoir, float-operated pump controlling -means GEORGE T.

whereof, ailix my signa- 

